Campground

French Camp

Inyo National Forest, California

About this campground

The facility is large and inviting, with forest and mountain views and several amenities.

French Camp lies in the Rock Creek area of the scenic Sierra Nevada Mountains, near Tom's Place and midway between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes, California.

Hiking opportunities are vast, and the creekside campground is convenient for fishing.

Map

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Latitude
37.552500° N
Longitude
118.679167° W
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Know before you arrive

Access, sites & campground features

Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.

Connectivity

  • T-MobileLTESome coverageVerified by 5 campers · Oct 18, 2026
  • VerizonLTESome coverageVerified by 4 campers · Oct 18, 2026
  • AT&T5GExcellent coverageVerified by 4 campers · Oct 18, 2026

Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.

Access

  • Drive-in

Site types

  • Tent sites
  • RV / trailer sites
  • Standard campsites
  • Group sitesCommunity report

Features

For campers

  • Showers
  • Picnic table
  • FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
  • Alcohol allowedCommunity report
  • Drinking waterCommunity report
  • Firewood availableCommunity report
  • Phone serviceCommunity report
  • ToiletsCommunity report
  • Trash serviceCommunity report
  • Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
  • Reservable

For vehicles

  • Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 40 ft
  • Back-in sitesCommunity report
  • Sanitary dumpCommunity report

Official campground guide

Plan with the full campground details

Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.

Open official source

Overview

French Camp lies in the Rock Creek area of the scenic Sierra Nevada Mountains, near Tom's Place and midway between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes, California. Its ideal location makes this campground a good stop for travelers on U.S. Highway 395 to rest overnight.

Hiking opportunities are vast, and the creekside campground is convenient for fishing. The facility is large and inviting, with forest and mountain views and several amenities.

Opening and closing dates for the season are dependent on weather.

Facilities

French Camp is a large facility with a variety of settings for tents and small to medium RVs (no hookups available). A few campsites can accommodate medium to large RVs and trailers.

Sites are organized in one large loop, with some along the banks of the creek. Each has a picnic table and campfire ring.

Firewood is available on-site for purchase, and nearby Tom's Place offers additional supplies and fee showers.

Recreation

Rock Creek and other waterways in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains are known for their exceptional trout fishing. A catch from the creek may includ brook, brown, rainbow and stocked Alpers trout.

The area's majestic scenery and challenging trails are an obvious draw for hikers and mountain bikers.

Because of the region's interesting geology, rockhounding is also popular.

Natural Features

Campers will experience the beauty of pines and fragrant junipers that have come to represent Inyo National Forest. The campground sits among aspens, pinyon and ponderosa and Jeffrey pines at an elevation of 7,500 ft.

The clear, cold and cascading Rock Creek, which originates in the John Muir Wilderness, runs alongside it. Brushy landscape and ample boulders in the area are fun to explore and traverse.

The area is home to abundant wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds.

Nearby Attractions

For campers interested in local events, Mule Days are held in nearby Bishop over Memorial Day weekend, and the Mammoth Jazz Jubilee is hosted in Mammoth in mid-July.

Activities & amenities

What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.

Available activities

  • Wildlife Viewing
  • PicnickingPicnic Tables
  • Hunting
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Camping

Amenities and facility features

  • Showers
  • Picnic tables
  • Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame

Recreation sites

Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.

Tent Only Non-Electric

21 sites
Reservation type
Non Site-Specific, Site-Specific
Equipment
Tent
Maximum people
6
Maximum vehicles
1
Maximum vehicle length
25 ft
Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
11:00 AM
Accessible sites
None flagged in site inventory

Standard Non-Electric

62 sites
Reservation type
Non Site-Specific, Site-Specific
Equipment
RV, Tent, Trailer
Maximum people
6
Maximum vehicles
1
Maximum vehicle length
35 ft
Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
11:00 AM
Accessible sites
None flagged in site inventory

Management

2 sites
Reservation type
Non Site-Specific, Site-Specific
Equipment
RV, Tent, Trailer
Maximum people
6
Maximum vehicles
2
Maximum vehicle length
35 ft
Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
11:00 AM
Accessible sites
None flagged in site inventory

Site rules, inventory & rates

Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.

Site rules

Has Taxes
1
Maximum stay
14 consecutive nights
Minimum stay
1 consecutive nights
Holiday-weekend minimum
0 days
Weekend minimum
0 days
Reservation cutoff
4 days before arrival
Maximum published occupancy
6 people per site
Maximum published vehicles
2 vehicles per site
Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
11:00 AM
Food storage
French Camp's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Inyo National Forest.
Fire and stove use
French Camp's official facility record states: Each has a picnic table and campfire ring.
Pets
Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.

Inventory window

Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.

Currently bookable through
Oct 24, 2026
Next release
Oct 23, 2026, 7:00 AM PDT
Next book-through date
Apr 23, 2027
Group sites bookable through
Oct 18, 2027

Published seasons & rates

SeasonSite typeNightly rateAdditional personDeposit
Peak SeasonApr 24, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026Management$35——
Peak SeasonApr 24, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026Standard Non-Electric$35——
Peak SeasonApr 24, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026Tent Only Non-Electric$35——
Peak SeasonApr 23, 2027 – Oct 30, 2027Management$35——
Peak SeasonApr 23, 2027 – Oct 30, 2027Standard Non-Electric$35——
Peak SeasonApr 23, 2027 – Oct 30, 2027Tent Only Non-Electric$35——
Peak SeasonApr 28, 2028 – Oct 28, 2028Management$35——
Peak SeasonApr 28, 2028 – Oct 28, 2028Standard Non-Electric$35——
Peak SeasonApr 28, 2028 – Oct 28, 2028Tent Only Non-Electric$35——

Important facility notices

Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.

  • Trailers/RVs over 35ft not recommended
  • Changing campsites in this campground is prohibited.
  • This is a high elevation facility; please use caution when traveling from lower elevations.
  • Be bear aware; keep all food out of site in approved containers or locked inside your vehicle and remove all food from area after eating; always keep a clean camp and do not feed any wild animals.
  • Two pets per site allowed.
  • Please Note: One RV with tow vehicle per single site or one vehicle per tent site. One vehicle per single site is included with your reservation. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground if you did not pay for an Extra Vehicle Add On. Extra vehicles must fit on the parking spur at the site.
  • Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed.
  • Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
  • Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
  • Click here for more information about Inyo National Forest.

Getting there & contact

Official directions

From Bishop or Mammoth Lakes, California, follow U.S. Highway 395 (about 30 miles north of Bishop). Take the Tom's Place exit and go 1 mile on Rock Creek Road.

Facility contact

760-935-4825

Sources

Recreation.gov official facility record — French CampUSDA Forest Service — responsible pet practicesRecreation.gov official facility record — French CampFrench Camp official facility detailsRecreation.gov official facility record — French Camp — food-storage guidanceThe Dyrt community reports — French Camp CampgroundRecreation.gov campground details APIRecreation.gov published seasons and ratesRecreation.gov booking-window release dataRecreation.gov recreation-site inventory